Propagation and immortalization of human lens epithelial cells in culture.

This report constitutes the first successful immortalization of human lens epithelial cells. Currently, two cell lines have been created (B-3 and B-4) and passaged to population doubling levels of 76 and 52, respectively. These cells may provide an important human cell line specific to in vivo human lens epithelial cell physiology and would be of interest in establishing a human model to study lens cell differentiation and the etiology of cataract. These cells may also provide a constant and reproducible source of lens epithelial cells for eye-related toxicology studies and to assay inhibitory drugs for the prevention of cataracts and posterior capsular opacification observed after cataract extraction.